President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22 at the Batasang Pambansa complex. Two years after he took office, let us go over PBBM’s third SONA and review some of the projects implemented and events that occurred within the Marcos administration.
Rice price cap
A notable campaign promise of Marcos Jr. was to bring down rice prices to ₱20 per kg, which has yet to be fulfilled. The President mentioned during the SONA, “Because of compelling emergency reasons, such as illegal price manipulations by hoarders, we were constrained to temporarily implement mandated price ceilings on rice.”
On Aug. 31, 2023, a price ceiling of ₱41 per kg on regular milled rice was mandated. However, within a month, this order was lifted—leaving the price of rice in disarray. According to data from the Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA), in July 2023, ₱41.4 was the average retail price for rice. By comparison, a year later, in July 2024, retail price was at ₱51.01, showing no improvement in reducing rice prices in the country.
Build Better More (BBM)
During the SONA, the President said: “Our infrastructure development remains sustained, strategic, and on schedule.” “Build Better More” is the infrastructure development program of the Marcos administration. The project is ultimately a rehash of the Build, Build, Build project from the previous administration. As of Feb. 27, 2024, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) confirmed a total of 185, following the addition of 23 projects and delisting 36 projects from the list of Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFP), all with a total value worth ₱9.14 trillion. One-fourth of the flagship projects is envisioned to be funded through Public-Private Partnerships as the President mentioned in his speech.
Transportation
The PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP) was implemented with the aim to modernize the transportation sector. It was pushed through despite protest from transport groups. Days before the SONA, on July 15, displaced jeepney drivers from Bacolod protested, calling for the President to scrap the PUVMP.
UNDOC-PISTON spokesman Mr. Noli Rosales voiced during the rally, “It didn’t work well, as many cooperatives are now lamenting their substantial losses.” However, there was no mention of the progress of this project during the SONA. Days after the SONA, on July 23, the senate proposed a resolution to postpone the PUVMP but was denied. According to LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz III, “The [PUVMP] will continue. The President supports the program and this will continue until the final stages of the modernization program.”
West Philippine Sea
Due to an alarming number of encounters with the China Coast Guard (CCG), tensions within the West Philippine Sea rose. On June 17, 2024, the CCG rammed and used weapons against the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during a resupply mission and a Filipino soldier lost a thumb during the encounter.
The President addressed this during the SONA, saying, “Ang West Philippine Sea ay hindi isang kathang-isip natin lamang. Ito ay atin. At ito ay mananatiling atin, hangga’t nag-aalab ang diwa ng ating mahal na bansang Pilipinas.”
To further assert the rights of the Filipinos to the territory, he mentioned that through proper diplomatic channels and mechanisms under the rules-based international order they mean to settle the dispute.
POGO
The Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) was granted a license to operate in the country in 2016. POGO hubs were raided in Pasay City on Oct. 8, 2023, and in Bambam, Tarlac, on Mar. 14, 2024, where several Filipino and foreign nationals were rescued after being human trafficked.
Upon inspection of the hubs, it was evident that more than gambling was occurring, as people were coerced into scams, sex trafficking, and torture. Senator Risa Hontiveros led the senate hearings and investigations on the POGO activities. Hontiveros, alongside the Senate, urged the President to call for a ban on POGO licenses and operations due to concerns about national security and staggering criminal activities. With this, the President announced during the SONA the ban of POGO in the country with its operations to cease by the end of the year.
“Kailangan nang itigil ang panggugulo nito sa ating lipunan at paglapastangan sa ating bansa. Effective today, all POGOs are banned,” PBBM declared.
Fall out of “Unity”
Things turned around as the former Marcos-Duterte tandem fell out of their alliance. Vice President Sara Duterte was not present during the SONA, making the rift between the two parties more evident.
The Office of the Vice President sparked questions with the revelation of ₱125 million in confidential funds spent in just 11 days in 2022. Meanwhile, on Jan. 28, 2024, during a prayer rally, former President Rodrigo Duterte called Marcos Jr. a drug addict. Additionally, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte urged the President to resign during a speech in Davao, describing him as lazy and lacking compassion, with no love or aspirations for the country. A month before SONA, on June 19, VP Sara Duterte exited the Marcos cabinet, resigning from her post as Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).
Entering his third year in office, there is a lot to work on with the developments and promises made even before this SONA. The general problems the nation faces, such as high prices of goods, infrastructures, and transportation concerns, have yet to have tangible improvements.
